Cases involving the deportation of several foreign nationals in Bali once again highlight the importance of understanding the purpose of an Indonesian visa before entering and carrying out activities in the country. In several recent cases, the issue was not that the individuals entered Indonesia without documents. Rather, the activities they carried out after arriving were allegedly inconsistent with the purpose of their visas or stay permits.
One example involved a Lithuanian national who was deported after using a Business Visit Visa while working as a paid content creator and carrying out digital marketing activities. Another case involved an Australian national who entered Indonesia using a Visa on Arrival (VOA) but was later suspected of working as a meditation instructor and organizing a yoga retreat in Bali.
The two cases highlight the same issue from different angles. Having a valid visa does not automatically mean that every activity in Indonesia is permitted. A visa provides a legal basis for specific activities during a person’s stay, so the type of visa must match both the purpose of the visit and the activities that will actually be carried out.
The Directorate General of Immigration has also become increasingly active in monitoring foreign nationals’ activities. In Bali, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office has conducted investigations based on information found on social media, immigration movement records, and the identification of parties connected to certain business activities. This type of monitoring shows that foreign nationals’ activities are becoming easier to trace, particularly when those activities are publicly visible online.
For foreigners who plan to live, work, run a business, create content, or provide services in Indonesia, understanding immigration regulations from the beginning is an important part of the preparation process. Choosing the wrong visa can disrupt plans that are already underway and, in certain cases, lead to deportation and an entry ban.
Understanding Indonesian Visa Types and Choosing the Right One for Your Activities
Indonesia offers different visa options based on the purpose of entry. Choosing the right one cannot be determined solely by how long someone plans to stay in the country. The purpose of the visit and the activities carried out during the stay also need to be considered.
For tourists, there are visit visa options intended for tourism and other permitted activities under the applicable rules. A Visa on Arrival (VOA) is also available for certain categories of visits. However, holding a VOA does not automatically grant the right to work or carry out commercial activities.
Business visits are different. They are intended for specific business-related activities that are permitted under the relevant regulations. Foreign nationals who will actually work for a company in Indonesia need to use the appropriate immigration route for that employment.
For those who need to stay in Indonesia longer for employment, investment, family matters, or certain professional activities, residence permits such as KITAS may form part of a more suitable immigration structure.
These distinctions matter because some activities can easily be misunderstood. A content creator visiting Indonesia to produce personal content is in a different situation from someone receiving payment from a company or running a marketing campaign for a business in Indonesia.
The same applies to yoga. A tourist attending a yoga class as a participant is different from a foreign national working as an instructor and organizing a paid retreat.
The case involving the Lithuanian national is a clear example. BR entered Indonesia on May 7, 2026, using a Business Visit Visa. He later worked as a paid content creator and carried out digital marketing activities for The Bali Dream. Following an investigation by the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, authorities determined that these activities were inconsistent with the conditions of his immigration status.
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The Australian case presents a similar situation. PJ entered Indonesia using a VOA that remained valid until August 24, 2026. However, he was suspected of working as a meditation instructor and organizing a yoga retreat as part of the “7 Day Inner Growth” program in Buleleng.
A VOA, however, has a defined purpose and cannot be used for employment or activities outside its permitted scope.
The two cases show why visa selection should be based on the actual activities a person intends to carry out in Indonesia. The length of stay matters, but the nature of the activity can be even more important when choosing the appropriate immigration route.
Visa Violations in Indonesia Can Lead to Deportation and Entry Bans
The situation becomes more serious when a foreign national carries out activities that do not match the purpose of their visa or stay permit. Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration provides a legal basis for administrative action against foreign nationals who violate immigration rules, including deportation and entry bans.
In PJ’s case, the Singaraja Class II Immigration Office with Special Authority imposed Administrative Immigration Action in the form of deportation and proposed an entry ban under Article 75 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 122 letter a of the Immigration Law.
Meanwhile, BR from Lithuania was deported and given a five-year entry ban beginning August 13, 2026.
A five-year entry ban can have consequences that extend far beyond losing the ability to stay in Indonesia. For someone with business plans, professional relationships, clients, or other activities in the country, being prohibited from entering Indonesia for that length of time can significantly affect future plans.
What is particularly notable about these cases is how the alleged violations were identified.
In BR’s case, the investigation began with information appearing on social media regarding the alleged involvement of two former Israeli military personnel in the management of a travel agency. Immigration authorities then traced the information and found a connection between The Bali Dream’s website and WhatsApp number and BR.
The investigation subsequently identified activities carried out using that identity and those business channels.
The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office also stated that it did not find a physical office for The Bali Dream in Indonesia by the time the investigation was completed.
This shows that immigration monitoring is no longer limited to airport inspections or physical documents. Digital footprints, business activities, public information, and immigration movement records can all form part of the monitoring process.
For this reason, foreigners living in Indonesia need to treat visa compliance as part of their overall activities. Opening a business account, marketing services through social media, receiving payments from clients, working as an instructor, or openly conducting commercial activities can all have immigration implications if those activities do not match the holder’s immigration status.
The government has emphasized that foreign nationals remain welcome in Indonesia as long as they respect the applicable laws and regulations. Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko stressed that the government supports a conducive tourism environment, but all foreign nationals must comply with Indonesian regulations while in the country.
Before Applying for an Indonesian Visa, Make Sure Your Purpose and Activities Match
The deportation cases in Bali point to a clear lesson. Immigration problems often do not arise when someone applies for a visa. They can emerge later, once the person begins carrying out activities in Indonesia.
For tourists, the risk may be relatively limited when all activities remain within the permitted scope of tourism. For digital nomads, content creators, freelancers, consultants, fitness instructors, business owners, and professionals working across borders, however, the line between visiting and working needs to be examined more carefully.
Questions such as who is paying you, where the work is being performed, who the client is, whether the activity generates income, whether an Indonesian company is involved, and whether you are providing services to the Indonesian market can help determine whether the selected visa is appropriate.
Companies can face even more complicated situations.
When a foreign employee is sent to Indonesia to attend meetings, install equipment, provide training, or work on a particular project, the activities should be reviewed before the trip begins. Companies should not assume that every work-related visit qualifies as a general “business trip” without checking the applicable visa requirements.
For that reason, obtaining professional advice before departure is often much safer than trying to correct an immigration status after the foreign national has already entered Indonesia. Accurate information from the start can help determine the appropriate visa, supporting documents, permitted stay period, and potential residence permit options when a longer stay is required.
Bizindo assists individuals, expatriates, and foreign companies with immigration requirements through Visa Services, residence permits such as KITAS, and support for employment and relocation needs. The Bizindo team can help align the appropriate immigration route with the purpose of entry and the activities that will be carried out, allowing the process to be prepared in a more structured way.
For companies bringing foreign employees to Indonesia, these needs can also be supported through business establishment services, employment solutions, and other administrative assistance. This allows immigration matters to be handled as part of a broader business preparation process rather than as a separate task.
The recent cases in Bali show that having an active visa is not necessarily enough. What matters most is making sure that your activities remain within the scope of the permission granted. With the right preparation from the beginning, foreign nationals can live, work, or conduct business in Indonesia while avoiding consequences that could otherwise be prevented. Contact Bizindo today!
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